MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, Tennessee) says it will make a “major investment” to expand production capacity for tertiary amines at its facility in Ghent, Belgium, by the end of 2021, said Chemweek.
The specific size of the capacity hike and the investment value has not been given. The company is also considering further investments at its tertiary amines unit at Pace, Florida, where it has already significantly increased capacity, making it the largest such unit in the world, it says. The investment to “significantly increase” capacity at Ghent is being made to help customers meet the need for hand sanitizers, wipes, sprays, liquid dish soap, and other household cleaning products, according to Eastman.
Eastman will continue to invest in tertiary amines if its customers support its expansions, says Bob Ash, product director/care chemicals at Eastman. "We appreciate their patience as we complete the work. In the meantime, our units are running at a high level," he says.
Tertiary amines are key raw materials for surfactants used in a wide variety of industrial, personal and home care markets.
As MRC informed previously, Air Liquide plans to invest over USD160 million in new capacity and upgrades to support a long-term agreement under which the company will supply additional gaseous oxygen, nitrogen, and syngas to Eastman Chemical’s Longview, Texas, facility.
We remind that in 2016, Eastman Chemical's chief executive Mark Costa announced that the company wanted to reduce its surplus ethylene and commodity intermediates, but did not intend to sell its cracker in Longview, Texas.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
According to MRC"s ScanPlast report, Russia"s estimated PE consumption totalled 1,594,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2020, up by 1% year on year. Only high denstiy polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 880,130 tonnes in the nine months of 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports, exluding producers" inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.
Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 14,500 people around the world.
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